Automatic cut-out



A. FERNNDEZ.

AUTOMATIC CUT-OUT.

APPLICATION FILED 1,111.2, 1918.

1,372,495. Patented Mar. 22, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 frz/Z0' @Hof/mm3 A. FERNNDEZ. AUTOMATIC CUT-OUT. APPLICATION FILED JAPLZ. 1918.

Patented Mar. 22, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ABEL FERNNDEZ, OF MEXICO, MEXICO.

AUTOMATIC CUT-our.

Application led January 2, 1918. Serial No. 210,050.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ABEL FERNNDEZ, a

citizen of Mexico, residing. at Avenida Pino Suarez 21, Mexico city, Mexico, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Out-Outs, of which the following is a specificatio y This invention relates to improvements in automatic circuit breaking devices, particularly to those devices commonly known in the art as thermal cut-outs which when interposed in electrical circuits will serve as means to prevent the occurrence of excessive or abnormal currents therein.

The invention has for its dominant object to provide an automatic circuit breaker which when interposed in the conductors of an electrical circuit will afford an effectual means therefor to prevent the overloading of the saine or the'short circuiting thereof, thus, eliminating ,the danger of overheating and the possibilities of fire resulting therefrom.

It is also an object of the inventlon to provide an automatic circuit breaker of the ,character mentioned, which may have the tension of the thermal regulating element thereof adjusted to permit the release of the circuit closing means when the strength of the current exceeds a predetermined value, thus allowing loads diifering in strength to be conveyed by the conductors of a circuit in which the same is interposed. t

` Other objectstrelate to considerations of economy of production, durability inuse and convenience in operation of the severa mechanisms or parts entering into the construction of elementsandthe above defined general organization of'said elements.

Other improvements and novelties in the details of construction and arrangement of the various parts of the device will be brought out more in detail in the description to follow, which, for a clear understanding of the invention, should be considered in connection with the accompanying drawings 'forming part hereof, and wherein 'is disclosed for the purpose of illustration, a convenient and satisfactory embodiment of the present invention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a top plan of the improved cut-out,

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section therethrough, taken on the line 2 2 of.

Fig. 1.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 22, 1921.

Fig. 3 is al vertical transverse section through the same taken 0n the line 3 3 of Fig. 4 is a fragmental of one contact, and,

Fig. 5 is a detail in section through the means for securing one end of the thermal element.

Similar reference characters refer to simi'- lar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Having more particular reference to the drawings, 1 represents the base of the improved cut-out device, the same being provided with a hinged cover 2 having suitable locking means 3 arranged thereon and engageable with said base 1 for an obvious purpose.

Bracket arms 4 are secured to the upper face of the base 1 which may be and preferably is formed of insulating material such as fiber, porcelain or the like. One of the brackets has one end of a metal piece 5 secured thereto while the remaining end is arranged adjacent the other bracket, which detail in perspective affords a stop therefor; said piece being proend of said arm extending to a point in proximity to the contact 6 and carrying a contact element 11 thereon, said contact element being insulated from the spring arm by means of a fiber sleeve 1 2 arranged thereabout. To this contact element 11 a branch conductor 13 is connected.

Secured to the base 1 at a point in proximity to the free end of the spring arm 11 is a. bracket 14 provided with an upwardly bent apertured guide lug 15 and a second upwardly bent lug 16 to which one end of a spring arm 17 is secured. The arm 17 isso arranged as to have its free end arranged at a point adjacent the contact member 6 and as a consequence, when the same is engaged with -the'free end of the arm 10, the contact element 11 carried thereby will be positively maintained in engagement with the contact 6, thus, completing the circui-t through the several conductors 7 and iio ing piece 19 is normally held in retracted position by means of a spring arm 22 secured to a bracket 23 mounted on the insulating base 1 and having its free end notched and engaged over said operating piece. A contact piece 19 is carried by the operating piece 19 and is normally engaged with the lug 15, thus, permitting the passage of current to the Ithermal element, hereinafter described. An electrical conductor 24 |forming the remaining side of the circuit in which the cut-out is interposed is connected 17 and from there through the thermal elef to the spring arm 22 .and due to the engagement of said arm with the bracketlet when in retracted position, current will'be per mitted to flow therethrough into the spring arm 17.

The thermal regulating element .of the cutout comprises a length of expansible wire designated by the numeral 25, one end of which is secured to the hookedv finger/18 while theV remaining endv isA engaged with a bracket 26 adjustably connected to an adjusting screw 27 mounted on the bracket 28 which in turn is secured to the base 1 at `a point opposite to the arrangement ofthe spring arm 17. Obviously, by adjusting t e screw 27 the thermal element 25 may be placed under varying tensions and as a consequence will cause disengagement of the arm 17 from the arm 10 at varying times.

In operation, the automatlc cut-ouft is interposed in an electrical circuit by having conductors7 and 24 connected to the contact 6 and the bracket 23. The branch conductor and to the contact 11 carried on the arm 10. The operating piece 19 is now pushed inwardly causing the contact 11 to be engaged with the contact 6, thus, closing the circuit. With the arm 10 in position to permit engagement of the contact 11 with the contact 6,v it will be noted that the free end of the arm 17 is engaged behind the free end of the same and as a consequence, undue disengagement thereof, will be prevented under normal conditions. Obviously, current will flow through the conductor 2 4 into the arm ment 25 from whence it will be introduced into the conductor 7. However, should the circuit be subjected to excessive or abnormal current, the resistance offered by the element ,of the arm 10. Upon such disengagement,

the arm 10 will immediately'sprmg Vto its normal position, interrupting 'the flow of current through the contacts 6 and 11. In this way, the line will be cut out and all' ,dangers attributable to the overloading-of the same either by excessive current {io-ws or other abnormal conditions will be positively prevented. .When the element 25 has cooled and contracted, the operating piece may be again moved inwardly to cause engagement of the contact 11 with the contact 6, said contacts being of course maintained in engagement by the spring arm 17 which engages with the free end of the arm 10. Therefore, itwill be noted that my improved cut-out does not require the refitting of the same with thermal regulatingl devices after.

each o ration thereof caused by the presence o abnormal currents.

Manifestly, ,the construction shown is capable of considerable modification and such modification as is within the scope of my claims, I consider within the spirit of my invention.`

I claim 1. In a -circuit breaker, a base, spring arms on said base, a stop engageable with the free end of one of the arms for limiting 1 movement thereof in one direction, the other spring arm normally tending to move away from the first mentioned arm, interengageable contacts carried on the terminals of Ithearms, a bracket carried by the base,

` member of the second mentioned arm from said arm, a thermo-sensitive element connected with the'latch means operable upon expansion, to permit displacement of the latch member and release of thesecond mentioned arm, said bracket, latch means and thermosensitive element being constructed of conducting material, and an electrical coni nection -between the thermofsensitive element and the insulated contact.

\ 2. In a circuit breaker, a base, spring arms on said base, a stop engageable with the end of one of the arms for/.limiting the move-l ment thereof in one direction, the other spring arm normally tending to move away from the first spring arm, interen ageable contacts carried by the free ends of 51e arms, a bracket carried by the base, a spring latch .member carried by the bracket engageable with the terminal of the second mentioned lspring arm to maintain the contact thereof 1n engagement with the contact of the first mentioned spring arm, the inherent resil- Y 25 to the travel of the current therethrough iency of the spring latch member normally tending to move the latter to arm. releasing position, a plunger slidably mounted in the bracket engagea-ble with the second mentioned spring arm to move the latter into operative position With relation to the firstmentioned spring arm, a thermo-sensitive element connected with one terminal of the. spring latch member and adapted, upon expansion, to permit the latter to move from engagement With the terminal of the second mentioned spring arm, and an adjustable connection between the opposite terminal of the thermo-sensitive element and the base for varying the normal position of the spring latch member with relation to the adjacent termina-l of the second mentioned spring arm.

In testimony whereof, I aix my signature hereto.

ABEL FERNNDEZ. 

